WAGNER OPERA SPECTACULAR
SAT , FEB 12 , 8 PM
JAMES CONLON , CONDUCTOR CHRISTINE GOERKE , SOPRANO GREER GRIMSLEY , BASS-BARITONE
BEETHOVEN Symphony No . 8 WAGNER “ Ride of the Valkyries ” from Die Walküre WAGNER Final Scene of Die Walküre
“ One of the most accomplished music directors currently on the podium of an American opera house ” ( Opera News ), James Conlon presents two of the most famous voices in opera , soprano Christine Goerke and bass-baritone Greer Grimsley . They join the BSO for a Wagner spectacular featuring “ Ride of the Valkyries ” and the final scene of Die Walküre . The program also features Beethoven ’ s light-hearted Symphony No . 8 .
Christine Goerke
Ray Chen
RAY CHEN PERFORMS SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO
SAT , MAR 5 , 8 PM
KEVIN JOHN EDUSEI , CONDUCTOR RAY CHEN , VIOLIN
BRAUNFELS Symphonic Variations on an Old French Children ’ s Song * SIBELIUS Violin Concerto SCHREKER Chamber Symphony * RAVEL La valse
World-renowned violinist Ray Chen , a favorite of BSO audiences , returns to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto , one of the most demanding , impressive , and emotionally riveting works for violin . Kevin John Edusei conducts Ravel ’ s enchanting ode to the waltz , Schreker ’ s ethereal Chamber Symphony , and Braunfels ’ delightful symphonic variations .
* These musical selections are part of Recovered Voices .
HOLST THE PLANETS
SAT , MAY 21 , 8 PM
PETER OUNDJIAN , CONDUCTOR WOMEN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CONCERT CHOIR , EDWARD MACLARY , DIRECTOR
VIVIAN FUNG Dust Devils DEBUSSY Nocturnes HOLST The Planets
Familiar to BSO audiences , conductor Peter Oundjian leads the orchestra in a thrilling performance of one of the most mystical classical works , Holst ’ s The Planets . The program also includes the tone poem Dust Devils by Canadian-born composer Vivian Fung and Debussy ’ s Nocturnes , the ultimate impressionist work capturing the beauty and wonders of planet Earth .
RACHMANINOFF RHAPSODY
SAT , JUN 18 , 8 PM
JAMES CONLON , CONDUCTOR BEATRICE RANA , PIANO
WYNTON MARSALIS Fanfare ( BSO Co-Commission ) RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No . 7 , “ Leningrad ”
Peter Oundjian
The final concert of the season includes Rachmaninoff ’ s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini featuring Italian pianist Beatrice Rana , whose playing is noted by The London Times as having “ a kind of Orphic seductiveness , a transcendent lightness of touch .” The Rhapsody has a historical connection to the region , as it was premiered by Rachmaninoff himself at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore . James Conlon leads the orchestra in a performance of Shostakovich ’ s dramatic “ Leningrad ” Symphony in which dueling brass sections represent the competing armies during the siege of Leningrad .
Beatrice Rana
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